Great Harwood

Doctor from Great Harwood accused of indecently assaulting patients

A DOCTOR has been charged with indecently assaulting two female patients during examinations.

Retired Syed Inam-ul Karim, 71, of Allsprings Plantation, Great Harwood, faces three charges of indecent assault dating back to 1990 at his surgery in Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, - one of them
under the age of 16.

John Wood, prosecuting, at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, said the charges arose out of allegedly “inappropriate and intrusive” examinations of patients.

Police said the allegations had come to light after 22 years, when one of the women reported an incident of assault.

Great Harwood residents living near Karim, said he was a well-known GP who had previously practised in Accrington.

One woman from Tan House Lane, who asked not to be named, said: “He is a lovely gentleman.

“So it’s a shock to hear he’s been charged with something like this.”

The magistrates directed the case should be heard at the Crown Court and Karim was remanded on bail pending the preparation of committal papers.

A spokesman for the General Medical Council (GMC), said that when a doctor retired, they did not lose their medical licence.

He added that in cases where a doctor was convicted of criminal offences, a hearing could take place to determine whether the licence could be retained.